Education funding cuts smaller than expected

Local school districts will be responsible for cutting a smaller portion of their current budget than originally feared when a statewide $30 million shortfall in Education Improvement Act funds was announced last week.

The state Department of Education was able to trim more than $27 million in expenses at the agency level, education department officials said Wednesday. That means that local school districts will need to cut a combined $2.4 million to reach the $30 million total. The Lowcountry's largest school district, Charleston, is responsible for slightly more than $143,000 while the other three local districts will need to return less than $100,000 each.

Education Improvement Act funds pay for academic assistance initiatives such as summer school, alternative schools, Advanced Placement classes, gifted and talented programs and teacher salary supplements. In addition to this year's $30 million cut, education officials have been told to plan for $30 million less next year due to slumping revenues in a poor economic climate.

Read Thursday's Post and Courier for more information.